Methods and systems for forming moisture absorbing products from a microcrop

Abstract

The present disclosure relates, according to some embodiments, to methods and systems for deriving odor- and moisture-absorbing products from a microcrop (e.g., photosynthetic aquatic species). More specifically, the present disclosure relates, in some embodiments, to forming an absorptive product from, including an animal litter, an animal bedding, a diaper product, a spill clean-up product, and any combination thereof. A process for forming an absorbent product from a microcrop may comprise the actions of (a) lysing the microcrop to generate a lysed microcrop; (b) separating the lysed microcrop into a solid fraction and a juice fraction; (c) processing the solid fraction to generate an absorbent solid; and/or (d) forming, by a shaping unit, the absorbent solid into pellets or granules that may be incorporated into the absorptive product. An absorptive product may have odor-reducing properties that are due in part to chlorophyll (e.g., from a microcrop).